Converged Network Device for Vehicle Legacy Compatibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle communication networks face challenges such as increased data demands, latency issues, and the need for higher performance buses, while also requiring segregation of network types and compatibility with legacy devices, all while managing data collection, storage, and access securely and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a converged network device (CND) that facilitates inter-network, intra-network, and extra-vehicle communications control using off-vehicle devices, enabling active diagnostics, tests, and vehicle control operations, while consolidating communication control, data management, security, and service implementation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional vehicle communication networks (CAN, LIN, FlexRay) are used, then legacy device compatibility is maintained, but data transmission speed and latency performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between legacy vehicle networks (CAN, LIN, FlexRay) and modern high-speed networks (Ethernet, WiFi, 5G). The gateway translates and routes data packets between different protocols, enabling legacy devices to communicate over high-speed networks without requiring hardware replacement. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining compatibility through protocol translation while achieving high-speed transmission through the modern network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device performs multiple functions including protocol translation, data routing, security management, and network monitoring across different vehicle communication standards. By consolidating these functions in a single multi-functional device, the system achieves both legacy compatibility and modern high-speed performance without requiring separate dedicated systems for each network type.
2Productivity
If higher performance buses are implemented to meet increasing data demands, then data transmission capability improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple network protocols and communication standards into a single gateway device that handles CAN, LIN, FlexRay, Ethernet, WiFi, and 5G communications. By merging these previously separate network infrastructures into one unified gateway, the system achieves high data transmission capability while reducing the overall complexity of managing multiple independent high-performance buses throughout the vehicle.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more devices and features are added to vehicles, then functionality and consumer appeal improve, but burden on communication networks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts network management functions from individual devices and consolidates them in a centralized gateway. The gateway handles protocol translation, data routing, security policies, and quality of service management for all connected devices. This extraction of management complexity from the edge devices to a central intelligent gateway enables more devices and features to be added without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
4Quantity of substance
If data collection and storage are expanded to meet analytics demands, then data availability for insights improves, but security risks and compliance burdens increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway implements preliminary security actions by encrypting data before it leaves the vehicle, authenticating external devices before allowing data access, and filtering data at the source. Security policies are established and enforced in advance rather than reacting to threats. This preliminary security processing enables expanded data collection while mitigating security risks through proactive measures.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway acts as a security intermediary between the vehicle's internal network and external cloud services or third-party analytics platforms. It controls and monitors all data flows, applying security policies, authentication mechanisms, and data anonymization techniques. This intermediary position enables data sharing for analytics while maintaining security and compliance through centralized control.
Data Source
AI summary
An example system includes a vehicle having a first network zone and a second network zone of a different type than the first network zone and a converged network device (CND) interposed between the first network zone and the second network zone. The CND includes a policy manager circuit structured to interpret a policy comprising a network regulation description and an external communication permission value; a configuration circuit structured to configure at least one network interface circuit in response to the policy and to configure at least one gatekeeper interface circuit in response to the policy; the at least one network interface circuit structured to regulate communications between end points of the first and second network zone; and the gatekeeper interface circuit configured to regulate communications between end points of at least one of the first network zone or the second network zone and an external device.